Flow distributor



Nov. 3, 1953 c. o. WEISENBACH 2,657,?02

mow DISTRIBUTOR I Filed Nov. 7, 1949 77 10 74 555. Jul 4 6E TIES IN V EN TOR.

rrozwzr Patented Nov. 3, 1953 UNITED STATES ATNT OFFICE FLOW DISTRIBUTOR Application November 7, 1949, Serial No. 125,909

g 17 Claims. 1

This invention relates to fluid distributors or dividers for insuring an equal flow of fluid from a common source to a plurality of discharge points, for example, where liquid fuel under pressure is tobe supplied to a plurality of discharge nozzles, as in a gas turbine engine.

An object of the invention is to provide a device of the type specified which has the marked ad.- vantage of simplicity in construction, yet will effectively function to maintain a predetermined flow to all discharge points irrespective of variations, within limits, of the discharge pressure at any one or more of said points.

Another object is to provide a flow divider or distributor which does not require a high degree of exactness in construction and initial flow calibration, but which is capable of adjustment during or after installation to obtain exact flow distribution.

Another object is to' provide a fiow divider which will effectively perform its intended function and which at the same time is devoid of any moving parts.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages will become apparent in view of the following description taken in conjunction with the drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a schematic View of a fuel supply system for agas turbine engine incorporating a flow divider in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a substantially central longitudinal section taken through the flow divider of Figure 1; and r V Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 of a s implified form ofthe invention, a]

In Figure 1, fuel from a suitable sourceof supply, such as a pressure pump, not shown, fiows to a fuel metering and control device 5 through conduit 6, and from said device the metered fuel flows by way of conduit 1 to the inlet side of the flow divider, which is generally indicated at 8. In the example illustrated in Figure 1, the flow divider distributes fuel to a plurality of discharge nozzles 9 through individualfuel lines I0. Any suitable type of fuel metering and control device may be used since it forms no part of the present invention. An example of a control device for gas turbine engines is disclosed in the copending application of Frank 0. Mock, Serial No. 716,15e filed December 13, 1946.

Referring to Figure 2, the device comprises a suitable housing, indicated at 8, having a connecting portion'l I *at'its inlet side or end through which fuel flows to an equalizing chamber I2 and thence through sets of aligned orifices I3 and I4.

The orifices I4 are preferably larger than orifices I3 andsthe latter are each preferably calibrated to'fiow the same amount of fuel for a given head. Theseorifices I3 and I4 are axially spaced from one another to provide what may be termed a velocity head chamber I5 therebetween, into which projects a deflector member such as needle I 6, which is shown as formed on the inner end of an adjustable screw I6 provided with a lock nut I'i. The fuel or fluid leaving the orifices I4 flows through outlet chambers or passages I8 to the individual nozzle supply lines ID. The orifices I3 are preferably flared at their inlet ends to minimize losses due to friction and to contraction of the fiuid streams, while the orifices I I are preferably flared at their outlet ends to assist in converting the velocity head to pressure head as the streams flow through said orifices I4.

The central portion of the housing 8' is formed with an additional set of orifices I9 and 29 which may be shaped like the orifices I3 and I 4 and axially aligned to provide a chamber 2I therebetween; An adjusting needle 22 projects into the chamber 2 I; it is formed on the inner end of a screw 22', Figure 1. The chambers I5 are vented to the chamber 2| through a series of radial passages 23. The orifice Zil discharges to a suitable low pressure source by way of chainher or passage 24 and connection 25, which source could be the low pressure side of the supply pump.

The additional orifices I 9, 20 and commonly vented chamber 2 I- and deflector members It may, if desired, be dispensed with, as in Figure 3 where like parts are given corresponding reference numerals. This promotes simplicity, but results in a loss of adjustment and a more limited range of control, as will be explained in the brief description of operation which follows.

Operation Fluid (in this case metered fuel) under pressure PI enters the common inlet chamber I2 and flows through the smaller orifices I3 (also orifice I9 in Figure 2) and thence shoots across the chambers I5 (also chamber ZI in Figure 2) into and through the larger orifices I4 (also 20 inFigure 2). These individual streams of fuel produce a pumping or ejector action in. the respective chambers I5 and 2|. The flow through the smaller orifices I3 and I9 is dependent, upon the pressure difference across these respective orifices, or the difference between PI and P2 pressures. The pressure head is converted to velocity head in orifices I3 and Hand-passes through chambers I5 and 2| in a stream having primarily 3 only velocity head. This high velocity stream enters orifices i i and 29, where it is converted back to pressure head. The pumping or ejector action is due primarily to the flow of the fuel vapors in each of the chambers l5 into the low pressure area defined by each high velocity fuel stream and thence out through orifices 14. Beginning with the minimum FE pressure which will effect an evacuation of the pressure in chambers 55, an incremental increase of P5 to some relatively high value will have a negligible efiect on P2 for the reason that 292 can never decrease to a pressure less than the vapor pressure of the fluid flowing, and since a relatively low Pi pressure results in a P2 pressure which is substantially equal to the vapor pressure of the fuel flowing, higher Pl pressures will not eifect a change in P2. Since the flow to each passage l8 and nozzles 9 is determined by the Pi minus P2 pressure difference, discharge of P3 pressure can be varied within very wide limits without afiecting the flow. The flow may be selectively varied by adjusting the needles 1% to variably deflect the fuel into the chambers i5, which is in effect the same as subtracting a small amount of fuel from the estab- Y lished flow passing through orifices [3. It is, of course, desirable that the orifices is be calibrated to flow the same amount of fuel for given pressure drops.

Considering the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 and 2, the central or common chamher 2 I, being in communication with the chambers l5, permits a certain amount of fuel to be defiected from the chambers l5 into the chamber 2i and ejected to a lower pressure source through the orifice 2i? and conduit 25. This common chamber 2| and its coacting input and discharge orifices may be calibrated so as to eject varying quantities of fuel from various chambers It for different adjustment settings of the deflector needles it in the various chambers. Over a predetermined range of adjustment the deflection of a portion of any given stream will have a negligible effect on the P2 pressure in the corre sponding chamber so that fuel flow calibration may be efifected without affecting the pressure difference, Pi minus P2, by deflector needle adjustment alone. Assuming in the system shown in Figure 1 that the flow divider is connected up to the respective discharge nozzles 9 and that the needles is have been adjusted to project slightly into the stream passing through said chambers, then, if upon a test run it is found that one of the fuel lines it is flowing more fuel than the remaining lines, the needle it of that particular flow system or conduit would be adjusted inwardly into the stream to thereby deflect a portion of the flow across the coasting chamber IE to the chamber 2!. By losing part of the flow passing through the orifices of that particular stream, the flow to the off nozzle would be reduced.

While in Figure 21 the needle 22 of the common or central chamber 2! may not be necessary or desired, yet it does serve the function of increasing or decreasing the ejector action in said chamber to thereby vary the P2 pressure in all of the chambers is in communication therewith.

In the simplified form shown in Figure 3, there is no means to adjust the fiow, yet in this type of unit the same variation in discharge pressure is permitted at the discharge points or nozzles as in Figure 2 without upsetting or disturbing the PIP2 differential which determines the flow through the orifices i3. Thus, if one of the nozzles should be completely blown out, leaving a free or unobstructed passage at the point of discharge, the flow of fuel to this particular nozzle would remain unchanged since the head which determines flow would also remain unchanged. If one of the nozzles should become obstructed or clogged, the flow to this particular nozzle would still remain unchanged so long as an excessive back pressure build-up did not ccur to affect the Pi-P2 differential across its coasting orifices l3.

Chambers 55 are interconnected in Figure 2 so that fuel deflected by members it will be ejected through radial passages 23, chamber 2i, and orifice 20. Since no flow adjusting means is in cluded in the embodiment shown in Figure 3 and equal nozzle flows are dependent on proper calibration of orifices l3, no interconnecting passage between the chambers 15 is necessary. Pressures P2 will be maintained constant throughout the range of fuel fiow, at any given fuel temperature, since equal ejector action will exist in each of chambers 15, resulting in chamber pressures equal to the vapor pressure of the fluid flowing, as described hereinbefore, for any flow velocity there through which is above a predetermined minimum amount. When there is no flow to nozzles 9, chambers i2 and iii are at the same pressure. When chamber !2 is first pressurized, equal pressure drops exist across orifices l3 resulting in equal flow velocities through chambers 15. For any change in metered fuel pressure to chamber i2 equal increments of change in chambers [5 flow velocities will occur across the accurately calibrated orifices i3 while pressures P2 remain constant, resulting in equal increments of change in the flow to each nozzle. I

An important advantage in the flow divider disclosed herein is the fact that the orifices 83 in Figure 2 need not be formed or calibrated to an unusually high degree of exactness, which is usually required in flow dividers of other known types. This results from the fact that should the flow through that particular system of orifices be out of balance with respect to the remaining flow systems, it is only necessary to adjust the needle 16 to bring the system into balance. A1..- other important advantage is that there is no chance of a large or dangerous amount of fuel being suddenly dumped into any one burner (assuming the system is being used in a gas turbine engine) due to complete blowout of the nozzle, since should this occur, the fiow to that particular burner will never exceed the flow determined by the Pl-P2 pressure across the orifices l3.

Although only two embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, various changes in form and relative arrangements of parts may be made to suit requirements.

I claim:

l. A device for dividing a stream of fluid under pressure into a plurality of individual streams, comprising a housing adapted to be interposed in the stream to be divided and having an input side and a discharge side and pairs of substantially axially aligned flow orifices connecting the input and discharge sides, there being a pair of orifices for each individual stream with the orifices of each pair spaced axially to provide a chamber therebetween, the orifices on the discharge side having an effective flow area at least as great as the eflfective fiow area of the orifices on the input side.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 plus means for adjusting the flow through said chambers.

3. A device for dividing a stream of fluid under pressure into a plurality of individual streams for delivery to points of discharge, comprising a housing adapted to be interposed in the stream to be divided and having an input passage and a plurality of discharge passages leading to said points of discharge, pairs of substantially axially aligned flow orifices connecting the input passage with said discharge passages, there being a pair of orifices for each discharge passage with the orifices of each pair spaced axially to provide a chamber therebetween, the orifices on the upstream side of said chambers which receive fluid from the input passage being restricted relatively to the orifices on the downstream side of said chambers, and an additional pair of similarly arranged orifices and coacting chamber through which fluid is ejected to a low pressure source, said latter chamber being commonly vented to said first-named chambers.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3 plus means for selectively and variably deflecting the fluid shooting at high velocity across said first named chambers into said commonly-vented chamber.

5. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein there is a deflector member adjustably projecting into each of said first named chambers for variably deflecting the fluid shooting at high velocity across said chambers into said commonly vented chamber.

6. A device as claimed in claim 3 plus means for adjusting the flow through all of said chambers including the commonly vented chamber.

7. A device as claimedin claim 1 wherein the orifices on the discharge side are contoured to eificiently convert velocity head to pressure head.

8. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the orifices on the inlet side are contoured to produce a flow contraction factor close to unity.

9. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the orifices on the discharge side are flared toward their discharge ends to efficiently convert velocity head to pressure head.

10. A device as claimed in claim lwherein the orifices on the inlet side are flared at their inlet ends to minimize losses due to friction and contraction of the fluid streams.

11. A device for dividing a stream of fluid under pressure into a plurality of individual streams comprising a chamber having a fluid inlet port, and a plurality of fluid outlet passages, a restriction in each of said passages, a second restriction in each of said passages posteriorly spaced from said first mentioned restriction and having an efiective flow area at least as great as the effec- 6 tive flow area of the first mentioned restriction.

12. A device as claimed in claim 11 plus means for adjusting the flow between said restrictions.

13. A device for dividing a stream of fluid under pressure into a plurality of individual streams comprising a chamber, a fluid inlet port for said chamber, a plurality of outlet passages for said chamber, a fluid return passage connected to said chamber, a restriction in each of said passages, a second restriction in each of said passages spaced from said first mentioned restriction on the downstream side thereof and having an efiective flow area at least as great as the effective flow area of the first mentioned restrictions, and conduits connecting the space between the restriction in each of said outlet passages with the space between the restrictions in said fluid return passage.

14. A device as claimed in claim 13 plus means for selectively and variably deflecting the fluid shooting at high velocity between the restrictions in said outlet passages into the space between the restriction in said return passage.

15. A device as claimed in claim 13 plus means for adjusting the flow between the restrictions in all said passages.

16. In a fluid flow distributor, a plurality of fluid passageways, a first restriction in each of said passageways, a second restriction in each of said passageways, and a chamber formed between said first and second restrictions in each of said passageways, said first and second restriction and said chamber being so constructed and arranged in each of said passageways that a pumping action takes place in each of said chambers when fluid is flowing through said passageways.

17. In a fluid flow distributor, a plurality of fluid passageways, a first restriction in each of said passageways, a second restriction in each of said passageways, and a chamber formed between said first and second restrictions in each of said passageways, said first and second restrictions and said chamber being so constructed and arranged in each of said passageways that the flow of fluid therethrough maintains a substantially constant pressure in each of said chambers throughout the flow range of the distributor which is substantially equal to the vapor pressure of the fluid flowing.

CHARLES O. WEISENBACH.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,318,676 Lawrence Oct. 14, 1919 2,158,716 Bergdoll May 16, 1939 

